Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

As part of our early education initiative, United Way of Southwest Wyoming launched the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Southwest Wyoming program in 2010. Parents in Fremont, Lincoln, Sweetwater and Uinta counties can enroll their children ages birth to five years.

Through this program, enrolled children will be mailed one free, age appropriate, book each month. Research shows that reading aloud is the sing most important thing you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning. This program helps increase reading aloud to children.

To participate in this program, United Way of Southwest Wyoming raises funds to pay for the shipping of the books. We also promote the program and register the children. From there, the Dollywood Foundation manages the shipping of the books. United Ways across of the country have partnered with this program. The average cost per child per year is $35, less than $3 a month.

Having access to books and reading aloud has numerous benefits to a child; reading aloud builds literacy skills, language and brain developement. The number of words that a child knows upon entering kindergarten is a key predictor of his or her future success. Learn more from Read Aloud.